Seventeen-year-old Gracien Derlie and her 13-year-old cousin Pierrain Bernadette are just like you.
Except for the fact that they don’t have an iPod. Or a cell phone. Or more than one change of underwear. Or . . . a home.
These teen girls are only two of thousands in Haiti whose lives will be forever different because of Jan. 12—the day nature unleashed a death sentence on much of Port au Prince.
Gracien lost several family members and friends in the quake. Pierrain’s family survived, but her home—and her entire neighborhood didn’t. Today the girls live with Pierrain’s mom and brother along with thousands of others in a tent city made from blankets, plastic sheeting and wooden posts they were able to scavenge from the rubble.
They have few belongings and nothing of value, and it will be many months—maybe years—before these communities can be rebuilt.
Despite the massive loss these girls experienced, they cling to something that can’t be destroyed: They have a strong faith in Jesus Christ.
Though even their church building was damaged beyond repair, the Christians gather outdoors each Sunday in an open yard to hold services.
Life Is Different Now
SUSIE Magazine made a trip to Haiti to volunteer where needed. And it was outside of a temporary medical field clinic organized in the national soccer stadium, that we met Pierrain.
She wasn’t injured. She just stood . . . in the scorching heat . . . as though she was supposed to be there . . . watching intently as each patient was treated under the temporary canopy.
“I thank God that my family is safe,” Pierrain says. “The few possessions we had are now buried far beneath the rubble with the thousands of homes.”
Pierrain continues to watch us work. “I’m here at the clinic,” she says, “because I want to watch the nurses and doctors make people better. And now I want to be a doctor when I grow up.”
She occasionally glances at her younger brother who’s playing nearby. Just like many of you, she’s babysitting . . . only she won’t be paid, and there won’t be any pizza or a movie. Her mother is searching the surrounding area for relief workers who arrive each day to hand out food and water. Much of Mom’s day will be spent standing in line hoping to receive a portion of food and water that will provide one small meal for her family.
Pierrain’s cousin Gracien anxiously observes a caregiver showing someone how to use crutches while walking with an injured foot. Gracien is careful not to disturb anyone or get in the way, hoping not to be asked to leave. At first she wouldn’t even speak. Gracien is very shy. And she’s afraid. She’s still in shock from her family members and friends who have died in the quake. She spends her days looking for ways to help others less fortunate.
“I don’t know what to do,” she finally says. “We need help. Please help us.” Gracien, along with thousands of others, simply feel lost, confused and alone.
Many teens in Haiti will face severe depression and post-traumatic stress as a result of what they witnessed during the disaster.
They now endure long, hot days without basic essentials, and many are alone as friends and family have been scattered between various refugee camps. There’s nothing they can do but wait.
They can’t even attend school, because most schools have been flattened in the quake. And wherever they go, they’re continually reminded of their condition by the stench of death, as many bodies remain buried in the ruble around them.
Hurt Beyond Words
We watched—and helped as we were able—the thousands who continued to line up for treatment at makeshift clinics throughout the capital and surrounding villages. The magnitude of this crisis is beyond words. The best we can do to describe it is to simply use statistics—and even the stats are a gross understatement.
How does one convey the devastation of the poorest country in the world with more than 3 million people now being beyond crisis? There’s no vocabulary to describe the smell of death that has saturated more than 200,000 people . . . many of them being teen girls just like you.
Most buildings have collapsed or are severely damaged— including more than 250,000 homes. Thousands of families are homeless, and countless children now know the meaning of “orphan.”
Help Needed
In a crisis of this magnitude, help can’t come soon enough. Even the best-prepared plans of governments are never enough to meet the desperate needs of those affected by the disaster. Communities around the world have responded by collecting supplies such as soap, toothbrushes, diapers and towels that can be wrapped together as care kits. Others donate clothing, food, and water to be shipped and distributed throughout Haiti by relief agencies.
Meeting the basic needs of life will remain a significant challenge for a long time for the families of Haiti.
But for Pierrain and Gracien, they cling to the eternal. They’ve learned that though life, home and temporary security can be destroyed, their relationship with Christ will last forever.
Some of the neighboring churches have begun holding services each afternoon so people can have a place to go and feel a sense of belonging. Church plays a significant role in the lives of many Haitians, and it’s their faith that sustains them through this most difficult time. It’s common to hear people singing praise songs throughout the community as people pass the time.
You Can Help
Haitians are desperate for any help you can offer.
What can you do? Start by asking others in your church or community what’s already being done, and get involved with any efforts currently underway. Organize a fundraiser with your friends, and donate the money to a charity or relief agency that’s specifically focused on helping Haiti. Collect supplies for crisis care kits. Each kit should include the following new items placed into a 2-gallon Ziploc bag.
- Medium size bottle of shampoo (12 to 18 oz.)
- Bar of soap (bath-size or larger)
- Toothpaste (4.0 to 6.4 oz.)
- Toothbrush
- Band-Aids (box of 30 or more)
- Fingernail clipper
- Hair comb
- Hand towel
- Facial tissues (pocket-size packages)
- Stuffed toy (beanie-baby sized)
Please remember all of Haiti in your prayers, but especially Pierrain and Gracien and the thousands of Sisterhood girls just like them whose lives will be forever different now. Pray for their safety, health, and that they would find the strength they need to survive each day.
You can see video of Gracien and Pierrain, plus footage of their community at: susiemag.com.
SUSIE Magazine’s
publisher, Premier Studios, partners with Heart to Heart, an international medical relief agency, to respond and document the tragedy. Heart to Heart provides medical supplies along with volunteer doctors, nurses and other caregivers. Heart to Heart will be in Haiti for many years to come providing for the victims of the quake. You can make an online donation to the Haiti crisis by going to www.hearttoheart.org.